Grain rotation in plastic deformation

Abstract

The plastic deformation behaviors of crystalline materials are usually determined by lattice dislocations. Below a certain particle or grain size, focus is placed on the grain-boundary-mediated mechanisms (e.g., grain rotation, grain boundary sliding, and diffusion), which has been observed during recrystallization, grain growth, and plastic deformation. However, the underlying mechanisms of grain rotation remain to be studied. In this article, we review the theoretical models, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental investigations on grain rotation. The development of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray characterization methods for probing grain boundary processes during plastic deformation provides a better understanding of the mechanisms of grain rotation. Especially, the ability to acquire high-quality X-ray diffraction patterns from individual nanograins is expected to find broad applications in various fields such as physics, chemistry, materials science, and nanoscience.